If he wants to play, let him play, reduce his salary. He CAN catch the ball still. and he can still make tackles, literally the only guy I KNOW FOR SURE is on our special teams, except Phil. I think with the concussion, and his wife all upset, he may think about retiring. But I say offer him a clipboard and a ballcap. He's a Browns Legend. If he goes anywhere else to play ball, I will cry. I thought I might cry when I saw him unconcious, but I just tried not to look and smoke my cigarette. He needs to be a part of the organization because of what he has meant to the team, for always giving his all.

Second in my heart, only to Phil Dawson in the modern Browns era.

This is what my father and many others have said as to why cribs should be on this team still.... He is (or least was) the heart of the team.

If he wants to play, let him play, reduce his salary. He CAN catch the ball still. and he can still make tackles, literally the only guy I KNOW FOR SURE is on our special teams, except Phil. I think with the concussion, and his wife all upset, he may think about retiring. But I say offer him a clipboard and a ballcap. He's a Browns Legend. If he goes anywhere else to play ball, I will cry. I thought I might cry when I saw him unconcious, but I just tried not to look and smoke my cigarette. He needs to be a part of the organization because of what he has meant to the team, for always giving his all.

Second in my heart, only to Phil Dawson in the modern Browns era.

This is what my father and many others have said as to why cribs should be on this team still.... He is (or least was) the heart of the team.

Hard to disagree with that...

I'll be honest, I went to Kent with Josh, he is a great guy. A great story, UDFA earned his way into the team, earned a new contract and he has been nothing but tough and gives his all. The NFL is a business and I hate to say it but I wouldn't offer him too much money when it comes to his next contract, matter of fact I would trade him if we aren't planning on resigning him and I will tell you why:

1. Is he a WR? No, he hasnt committed to becoming a quality starting NFL WR. Yes he "makes plays" on occasion but he isn't high on our WR depth chart for a reason. He has made 4 receptions for 39 yards in 5 games. Tell me who you would bench in favor of Cribbs out of: MoMass, Little, Gordon, Benji, Norwood.

2. The rule changes in the NFL have devalued the return man.

3. Furthermore, is his value on punt/kick returns worth more than Travis Benjamin? I would rather have the speed of Benjamin out there.

4. Right now, he is 29, he will be 30 before the beginning of next year. His return value will only deminish going forward.

Like I said, I love Josh and what he stands for. But it's one of those we-are-listening-to-our-hearts-over-our-head arguments at least for me._________________

I'll be honest, I went to Kent with Josh, he is a great guy. A great story, UDFA earned his way into the team, earned a new contract and he has been nothing but tough and gives his all. The NFL is a business and I hate to say it but I wouldn't offer him too much money when it comes to his next contract, matter of fact I would trade him if we aren't planning on resigning him and I will tell you why:

1. Is he a WR? No, he hasnt committed to becoming a quality starting NFL WR. Yes he "makes plays" on occasion but he isn't high on our WR depth chart for a reason. He has made 4 receptions for 39 yards in 5 games. Tell me who you would bench in favor of Cribbs out of: MoMass, Little, Gordon, Benji, Norwood.

2. The rule changes in the NFL have devalued the return man.

3. Furthermore, is his value on punt/kick returns worth more than Travis Benjamin? I would rather have the speed of Benjamin out there.

4. Right now, he is 29, he will be 30 before the beginning of next year. His return value will only deminish going forward.

Like I said, I love Josh and what he stands for. But it's one of those we-are-listening-to-our-hearts-over-our-head arguments at least for me.

1. Gordon and Benji fairly easily from what they've shown us thus far. Maybe Norwood. Little doesn't really have a strong argument for him, there are times where I definitely wish Cribbs was in there instead of him. I think he could out produce or match Gordon and Benjamin stat-wise pretty easily if given the same number of snaps. Norwood is the toughest to judge just because he's also gotten on the field so inconsistently. I'm not gonna say Little because I can't knock the fact that he gets open, but I think Cribbs has much better hands. MoMass, Little, Cribbs would have probably been my top 3 pretty easily. I don't know, it seems like we aligned our WR depth chart more based on potential than actual production. I don't understand it.

2. Yeah I can't really argue with that.

3. Holy overreaction, and I don't mean just by you, but by pretty much everybody.

Josh Cribbs is 3rd in the NFL in kick return average, and the 2 guys ahead of him have half as many returns (9 instead of Cribb's 1. He's 6th in the league in punt return average. There's nobody in the league that's coming anywhere close to matching his output on both kicks and punts, except maybe McKelvin on Buffalo although he's only had 6 kick returns and 7 punt returns.

For a second please stop comparing Cribbs to what he used to be instead of the rest of the returners in the league, he's better than the vast majority of them. I think he might've spoiled us earlier in his career.

If you think Benji has more to offer back there then you have some serious unprecedented faith in Travis Benjamin.

4. Well he's certainly not getting any faster, and he's definitely slowed down. I'm willing to wait until he's actually a liability back there though, instead of being upset that he's not unspeakably good.

This team needs veteran players, believe it or not. I seriously don't think letting Josh go helps us on the field, in the locker room, nor would it be popular among the fans.

Actually I take that back about Cribb's being 3rd WR at worst, and that's only because of the fact he's playing so much special teams I wouldn't want to wear him out. If he was gassed up and ready to go however, I wouldn't even think twice about having him in there over Gordon and Benjamin if available.

He got all [inappropriate/removed] about playing offense last season though, so this might be partially self inflicted on his part. But I truly believe that he'd be more efficient than our rookies at this particular time.

I'll be honest, I went to Kent with Josh, he is a great guy. A great story, UDFA earned his way into the team, earned a new contract and he has been nothing but tough and gives his all. The NFL is a business and I hate to say it but I wouldn't offer him too much money when it comes to his next contract, matter of fact I would trade him if we aren't planning on resigning him and I will tell you why:

1. Is he a WR? No, he hasnt committed to becoming a quality starting NFL WR. Yes he "makes plays" on occasion but he isn't high on our WR depth chart for a reason. He has made 4 receptions for 39 yards in 5 games. Tell me who you would bench in favor of Cribbs out of: MoMass, Little, Gordon, Benji, Norwood.

2. The rule changes in the NFL have devalued the return man.

3. Furthermore, is his value on punt/kick returns worth more than Travis Benjamin? I would rather have the speed of Benjamin out there.

4. Right now, he is 29, he will be 30 before the beginning of next year. His return value will only deminish going forward.

Like I said, I love Josh and what he stands for. But it's one of those we-are-listening-to-our-hearts-over-our-head arguments at least for me.

3. Holy overreaction, and I don't mean just by you, but by pretty much everybody.

Josh Cribbs is 3rd in the NFL in kick return average, and the 2 guys ahead of him have half as many returns (9 instead of Cribb's 1. He's 6th in the league in punt return average. There's nobody in the league that's coming anywhere close to matching his output on both kicks and punts, except maybe McKelvin on Buffalo although he's only had 6 kick returns and 7 punt returns.

For a second please stop comparing Cribbs to what he used to be instead of the rest of the returners in the league, he's better than the vast majority of them. I think he might've spoiled us earlier in his career.

If you think Benji has more to offer back there then you have some serious unprecedented faith in Travis Benjamin.

You realize that Josh has led the league in kick return ATTEMPTS and is tied for fifth in punt return ATTEMPTS. His stats should be inflated b/c he is the only one returning kicks and he is returning a lot of them. (thanks defense)

I am not contesting that he does a great job with his opportunities (other than the 2 lost fumbles) but he should do well with all the opportunities he has had...

IMO, you look at guys like Randall Cobb in GB, a mid round speedy guy who returns kicks and works his way into becoming a major cog in the offense. Josh has been a return guy since 2005 and has neither worked his way into the starting lineup as a WR nor become a major cog in the offense.

At this point in his career, you will see his numbers start to decline. He isnt built for speed like McKelvin, Pat Pete or Hester, he is a bigger guy that is showing he cant stand up to the hits he subjects himself to anymore.

I am simply saying, right now he could perhaps return you a 4th or 5th rounder and then you could put Hardesty back there returning kicks b/c God knows Montario isn't doing anything but wasting roster space. But don't be surprised if he doesnt come back to CLE next season when we offer him significantly less money than did before he held out._________________

Skipping over bruceb's posts since 2012

Last edited by NickZambo on Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:07 am; edited 1 time in total

Actually I take that back about Cribb's being 3rd WR at worst, and that's only because of the fact he's playing so much special teams I wouldn't want to wear him out. If he was gassed up and ready to go however, I wouldn't even think twice about having him in there over Gordon and Benjamin if available.

He got all [inappropriate/removed] about playing offense last season though, so this might be partially self inflicted on his part. But I truly believe that he'd be more efficient than our rookies at this particular time.

He isn't good enough to be out there as a starting WR or else he would be out there instead of MoMass, Little, Gordon, Benjamin, Norwood or anyone else we have on this "WR starved team". IMO, if he wanted to be a WR, he should have committed to it and shown progress over the past 5-7 years, except he hasn't. And if he has tried, he hasn't proven to anyone that he is good enough to be a WR. Hence him saying he is content to just being a return man._________________

I'll be honest, I went to Kent with Josh, he is a great guy. A great story, UDFA earned his way into the team, earned a new contract and he has been nothing but tough and gives his all. The NFL is a business and I hate to say it but I wouldn't offer him too much money when it comes to his next contract, matter of fact I would trade him if we aren't planning on resigning him and I will tell you why:

1. Is he a WR? No, he hasnt committed to becoming a quality starting NFL WR. Yes he "makes plays" on occasion but he isn't high on our WR depth chart for a reason. He has made 4 receptions for 39 yards in 5 games. Tell me who you would bench in favor of Cribbs out of: MoMass, Little, Gordon, Benji, Norwood.

2. The rule changes in the NFL have devalued the return man.

3. Furthermore, is his value on punt/kick returns worth more than Travis Benjamin? I would rather have the speed of Benjamin out there.

4. Right now, he is 29, he will be 30 before the beginning of next year. His return value will only deminish going forward.

Like I said, I love Josh and what he stands for. But it's one of those we-are-listening-to-our-hearts-over-our-head arguments at least for me.

3. Holy overreaction, and I don't mean just by you, but by pretty much everybody.

Josh Cribbs is 3rd in the NFL in kick return average, and the 2 guys ahead of him have half as many returns (9 instead of Cribb's 1. He's 6th in the league in punt return average. There's nobody in the league that's coming anywhere close to matching his output on both kicks and punts, except maybe McKelvin on Buffalo although he's only had 6 kick returns and 7 punt returns.

For a second please stop comparing Cribbs to what he used to be instead of the rest of the returners in the league, he's better than the vast majority of them. I think he might've spoiled us earlier in his career.

If you think Benji has more to offer back there then you have some serious unprecedented faith in Travis Benjamin.

You realize that Josh has led the league in kick return ATTEMPTS and is tied for fifth in punt return ATTEMPTS. His stats should be inflated b/c he is the only one returning kicks and he is returning a lot of them. (thanks defense)

I am not contesting that he does a great job with his opportunities (other than the 2 lost fumbles) but he should do well with all the opportunities he has had...

IMO, you look at guys like Randall Cobb in GB, a mid round speedy guy who returns kicks and works his way into becoming a major cog in the offense. Josh has been a return guy since 2005 and has neither worked his way into the starting lineup as a WR nor become a major cog in the offense.

At this point in his career, you will see his numbers start to decline. He isnt built for speed like McKelvin, Pat Pete or Hester, he is a bigger guy that is showing he cant stand up to the hits he subjects himself to anymore.

I am simply saying, right now he could perhaps return you a 4th or 5th rounder and then you could put Hardesty back there returning kicks b/c God knows Montario isn't doing anything but wasting roster space. But don't be surprised if he doesnt come back to CLE next season when we offer him significantly less money than did before he held out.

Cobb was a 2nd round pick. The Pack was lucky to get someone with speed and talent where they did, so I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that guys like him are available later in the draft.

There is no chance of even getting a 6th round pick for Cribbs, so please stop pretending he has trade value. A 4th? You must be joking.